• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2015

Purpose: This study was conducted to explore relationships of postpartum depression with socio-demographic and clinical characteristics of preterm infants and mothers. Methods: Participants were the mothers of 80 premature infants admitted to neonatal intensive care units. Postpartum depression was measured using the Edinburg Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). Clinical characteristics were examined through the medical records. The physiological state for the infants was evaluated using the revised Neurobiologic Risk Score (NBRS). Data were analyzed using the t-test, ANOVA, and Pearson correlation coefficients. Results: Average for EPDS was $9.75{\pm}5.06$, and 30% of the participants were at high risk for postpartum depression. There were significant differences in postpartum depression according to mother's education level (F=3.493, p=.035), economic state (F=5.828, p=.004), multiple pregnancy (t=2.141, p=.037), chorioamnionitis (t=2.349, p=.021), oligohydramnios (t=-2.226, p=.029), broncho-pulmonary dysplasia (t=2.085, p=.040), germinal matrix hemorrhage (t=2.259, p=.027), and revised NBRS (t=-2.772, p=.007). There was a significant positive correlation between postpartum depression and number of health problem of infants (r=.252, p=.024) and revised NBRS (r=.316, p=.004). Conclusion: As 30% of the mothers with preterm infants were at high risk for postpartum depression, they require attention. When providing interventions, socioeconomic status as well as the physiological state of premature infants should be considered.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.248-254
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• 2007

Purpose : Inflammation plays a major role in the pathogenesis of RDS and BPD in the immature lung. We investigated the possible role of IL-10 and IL-12 in the cord blood of preterm newborns with RDS or BPD. Methods : Forty preterm newborns whose mothers received antenatal care at Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital between January 2003 to June 2005, and agreed to testing their cord blood samples were enrolled. The gestational ages were below 34 weeks. Cord blood level of IL-10 and IL-12 were determined by ELISA. We separated the patients into 2 groups (RDS group and non-RDS group, BPD group and non-BPD group) and compared the cytokine levels and clinical records of the groups. Results : Cord blood IL-10 level showed a significant inverse correlation with gestational age and birth weight (P=0.001, P=0.005). Preterm infants with RDS showed higher IL-10 level (1.0 vs 0.1 pg/mL; P=0.001) in the cord blood than those without RDS. The differences remained statistically significant after correction for the effect of gestational age between both preterm groups. Despite similar cord blood IL-10 levels, preterm infants with BPD showed no significant difference with those without BPD. Conclusion : Cord blood IL-10 levels are increased in preterm infants which may be due to the immuno-suppression occurring during pregnancy and to fetal immaturity because these levels are inversely correlated with the gestational age. So, Cord blood IL-10 level can be used as the predictor of RDS.